Ghon focus

About: Ghon focus is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 11 publications have been published within this topic receiving 110 citations.

Mycobacterial and actinomycete infections

Abstract: This chapter discusses mycobacterial and actinomycete infections. Mycobacteria are seen as 2–4 μm long, red, acid-alcohol-fast bacilli in a Ziehl–Neelsen stain. Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( M. tuberculosis ) strains have abundant Wax D and lipids in the cell wall and multiply intracellularly and also extracellularly. Infection with mycobacteria leads to a delayed hypersensitivity type of immune response. M. tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis cause, respectively, human type and bovine type tuberculosis in man. Opportunist mycobacteria may also cause mycobacterial disease in man. Characteristically, primary tuberculosis occurs in childhood, consisting of a subpleural Ghon focus of infection, with associated regional infected lymph nodes in the mediastinum. Primary infection is usually accompanied by mild or no symptoms and is followed by spontaneous resolution. Many mycobacterial species survive for long periods in the soil, water, or dust and these species are known as the opportunist mycobacteria or environmental mycobacteria. Other synonyms include atypical or anonymous mycobacteria.